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Dorothy Arzner was the only woman director during the “Golden Age” of Hollywood’s studio system. In her 15-year career as a director (1928-43), Arzner, who also was a lesbian, made three silent movies and 14 “talkies,” including the first one for Paramount Studios. She also was the first woman in the Director’s Guild of America.Despite her cinematic achievements, Arzner’s story is know by very few people.But actress Wendy Haines wants to change that. She wants to make a feature length film about Arzner’s life, “Sophisticated: The Untold Story of Dorothy Arzner,” and setup a Kickstarter page to raise money for it.

Dorothy Arzner was the only woman director during the “Golden Age” of Hollywood’s studio system.

In her 15-year career as a director (1928-43), Arzner, who also was a lesbian, made three silent movies and 14 “talkies,” including the first one for Paramount Studios. She also was the first woman in the Director’s Guild of America.

Despite her cinematic achievements, Arzner’s story is know by very few people.

But actress Wendy Haines wants to change that. She wants to make a feature length film about Arzner’s life, “Sophisticated: The Untold Story of Dorothy Arzner,” and setup a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for it.

Haines’ Kickstarter campaign ends 8 a.m. Thursday.

Dorothy was a compelling character. She made her place in a completely male world,” says Haines, who lives in Topanga. “Her drive to do what she loved in spite of the world around her telling her it wasn’t possible inspires me.”

“The other thing that I find so compelling about Dorothy is her character,” Haines says. “She was a lesbian, dressed very dapper, would be considered butch by todays standards. In spite of the social pressures to conform, Dorothy remained true to herself.

In 1943, Arzner walked away from Hollywood. She continued working, directing television commercials and producing plays. In the 1970s, she was a professor at the UCLA film school, teaching screenwriting and directing until her death in 1979.